From The Straits Times    |

We gripe about having no personal time. But look at what we’re spending our precious non-working hours on!

Simply Her asked readers what they spend most of their time doing, outside of work, and 68 per cent of readers told us that it was grocery shopping. We asked Vanessa Tan, motivational speaker and founder of Singapore-based life coaching company, Vanessaism Inc, to tell us how to save time on these activities.  

 SimplyHer October 2012, Singapore women's magazine

1. Grocery shopping – 68%   Solution: Don’t browse aimlessly
Browsing is the culprit that eats into your time, says Vanessa. A good two hours too, our reader poll revealed. Making a detailed groceries list keeps you focused so you buy only what you need. “I find it useful to plan the family’s dinner menu from Monday to Friday. I pick up only what I need for the menu,” she says.

 

2. Household chores or ferrying the kids around – 50%
Solution: (Household chores) Let go of some things

Accept that you can’t do everything. Says Vanessa: “We have to learn to relinquish control and delegate duties, and acknowledge that it is okay not to do the chores every day.”

Solution: (Ferrying children around) Share the duties
“If you’re the one doing the ferrying, get your husband to take over for just one weekend in a month,” suggests Vanessa. This gives you a few hours to unwind and catch up on your own activities. It also helps to establish a good support network between you and your husband – so you can enjoy your me-time without mummy guilt.

 

3. Family obligations – 39%
Solution: Focus on quality time

Weekly visits to parents and in-laws, and family gatherings, can take up a lot of time. Vanessa advises that the best way to manage your time is to limit your visiting hours. “Stick to a two- or three-hour time frame and focus on quality time ­– no mobile phones, iPads or other distractions. Your family members will appreciate that you’re making an effort to be present in the moment,” says Vanessa.

 

4. Kids’ homework – 36%    
Solution: Set a time limit

Your kids may have tuition, but the tutor won’t be around every day to oversee their work. On days where you have to step in, don’t sit with your child for hours at a time. It can be tiring and frustrating – for you and Junior. Vanessa proposes: “Agree on a fixed amount of time that you’re going to spend teaching your child, then take shifts with your husband – maybe an hour each for a two-hour stretch.” 

 

5. Preparing for the next day – 29%            
Solution: Draw up schedules and lists

Packing school bags, making lunch, preparing outfits, etc. Vanessa suggests making a list for your kids to use when they pack their schoolbags. Check to see if they’ve followed the list, instead of doing it for them. This helps them learn to be independent. In time, you’ll be able to trust them to do it themselves.

This story was originally published in Simply Her October 2012.